A Meta-Analytic Review of Communication Campaigns to Promote Organ Donation

Abstract

The current study, using random-effects meta-analysis, provides a review of communication campaigns designed to promote organ donation. Findings across 23 campaigns indicate an overall 5% increase in study outcomes (e.g., registry signing) compared to control groups (k ¼ 23, N ¼ 6,647,801). Several moderators were tested including publication bias, target audience, and type of campaign. Statistically significant differences were not found for any of the moderator factors tested. Results are discussed in terms of future campaigns designed to promote organ donation.The gap between the number of organs available and the number of organs needed has historically been wide and this disparity has increased in the last decade. One promising strategy to decrease the gap is to increase the consent and conversion rates for available organs.

The Effectiveness of High- and Low-Intensity Worksite Campaigns to Promote Organ Donation: The Workplace Partnership for Life

“…Moreover, campaigns targeting students frequently meet with an impressive level of success (Feeley, 2007;Feeley & Moon, 2009;Feeley & Servoss, 2005;Marshall, Reinhart, Feeley, Tutzauer, & Anker, in press). However, this project could not generalize to worksites that are not university-based.…”

Designing and Evaluating the Campus Organ Donor Project

“…In terms of the interpersonal attempts to affect the attitudes and beliefs of the target population, Feeley and Moon (2009) stated that interpersonal influence attempts should follow mediated messages in an organ donor campaign. These authors wrote that interpersonal methods ''reassure individuals' decision to donate, provide the means to pledge one's donation wishes, and communicate the normative nature of altruism within a community'' (p. 71).…”

“…From a campaign designer's perspective, it is necessary to develop media messages directed at a specific target audience (Feeley & Moon, 2009). The target audience for this campaign was deemed to be college students who might be confused about these donation issues.…”

Analysis of the Science and Technology Narrative within Organ Donation and Transplantation Coverage in Canadian Newspapers

“…Numerous campaigns endeavor to increase the availability of organs [71]. The first campaign was in 1978 according to a Globe and Mail article [90], with articles stating that organ shortages will continue until the attitudes of people change [147] and that other campaigns, such as the ones discouraging drunk driving, cut down on the availability of brain-dead people as organ donors [148].…”